You heard it here first: Food Network Star is kicking off an all-new ninth season on Sunday, June 2 at 9pm/8c, and returning judge-mentors Alton Brown, Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis will be there at the helm. This year the mentors are tasking 12 hopefuls with weekly Mentor and Star Challenges in the ultimate multi-month interview for the chance to earn their dream television job: their own show on Food Network. While the contestants bring with them a mix of backgrounds — including culinary school, restaurant management, private chef and food blogging — they have but one dream, which is to become the next Food Network Star. From now until next month's premiere, Star Talk will introduce one finalist a day until you, Star fans, meet them on camera during the show.

Having grown up cooking in a food-focused family, Stacey Poon-Kinney, 34, became familiar with the restaurant scene at a young age, thanks to her great-grandfather and great-grandmother, who worked as a chef and a diner owner, respectively. She eventually pursued her passion for dance and performance, but she later teamed up with her father to open The Trails restaurant, which was featured on Restaurant: Impossible. This mother of two now lives in San Diego and runs The Trails.

Click the play button on the video to watch Stacey's casting video.

Visit the Food Network Star Headquarters for more exclusive interviews, plus behind-the-scenes images and videos of the finalists and mentors, and tune in to the Season 9 premiere on Sunday, June 2 at 9pm/8c.

He loved her food! He mostly helped with managing a dinner service and updating the decor. Stacey had a vast menu too (all of which was awesome), but Chef Irvine helped her pare it down to the "most awesome" and together they built the current dinner menu.

let's see there is one contestant from Resturant Impossible, one from Chopped, one from Hell's Kitchen.one from Iron chef. I WISH I WORKED IN CASTING THIS YEAR. Just watch reruns of other shows and hire anyone. There are so few chefs out there that they have to recycle ?

Love Stacey. Got a chance to meet her at a Dinner Impossible night with Robert Irvine. She is gracious and very friendly. I am so happy that she is on the program. One contestant was on the Great Food Network Food Truck so I don't think there is anything wrong with Stacey being in the competition. May the best person win!

I saw Stacey on RI and it was the best episode ever. She's so sweet, her father too. FN should just give Stacey her own show, she's worked so hard already and deserves an opportunity. She's an amazing lady! Good luck to you!

Let's see. Stacey's rich dad ran a high profile, old school La Jolla jewelry store and an investment group that claims that it "invests wisely." Stacey couldn't run her business (she financially tanked despite her dad's connections and lofty investment in her business) so she went on Restaurant Impossible, cried alot and feigned ignorance to appeal to men's protective instinct, then continued to try to buy her way to success with Food Network Star. She still hasn't built a successful business (after all that costly PR, she still only merits a 4 star on Yelp with lots of below average or merely average ratings)...and now she lands on Food Network's Next Food Star Show. Mmmmm-k. Focus on making good food, Stacey -- and learn the basics of cash flow and smart business operations- rather than letting your Daddy pay to try to buy you fame.